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22 School Food Service 2023-2024 Annual ReportCommunity Hunger ReliefTable 1Partnerships with Local OrganizationsTo address food insecurity in our community, the District established the Hunger Relief Collaboration Team (HRCT) in FY17. This initiative supports schools by partnering with local organizations to provide food distribution programs, such as backpacks, food pantries, and other resources for students and families.In FY24, SFS continued collaborating with the United Way of Palm Beach County, Hunger Relief Advisory Council and other hunger relief community agencies that provided backpacks, and/or food pantry programs for students and families (Table 1). These partnerships ensured students and families had access to nutritious meals, helping to reduce food insecurity across the District. Through the efforts of the HRCT, thousands of students have benefited from weekend meal programs, significantly impacting the well-being of our students and their families.Enhance Wellness Throughout the District%u2022 Palm Beach County Food Bank (PBCFB): Offered a double-bag opportunity for 15 schools participating in its Weekend Meal Program and adopted seven schools, distributing 1,584 meal boxes to families.%u2022 Pan-Florida Challenge (PFC): Doubled its Family Weekend Backpack meal distributions ahead of the breaks, reaching 168 students across two schools.%u2022 Feeding South Florida (FSF): Delivered fresh produce and protein to eight schools, totaling 72 pallets (81,535 pounds of food), which served approximately 1,409 households, encompassing around 5,171 individuals.MainMENUBridging the Gap Food DistributionsTo help bridge the hunger gap during Thanksgiving, Winter, and Spring breaks, SFS collaborated with three of the non-profit organizations below to provide food support: